Witness: Driver racing, speeding less than a day before deadly crash at homeless camp
A 24-year-old driver accused of killing four people when he crashed into a homeless camp Sunday morning was driving with a suspended license and his car was seen in an apparent street race hours before the fatal crash, according to a probable cause statement by the Salem Police Department.
In addition, Enrique Rodriguez Jr., told officers he had four alcoholic beverages before getting behind the wheel, according to the statement.
Rodriguez was arrested Sunday and is being held without bail on multiple manslaughter charges, as well as a DUII.
At his arraignment Monday, Marion County Deputy District Attorney Katie Suver said Rodriguez lost control of his silver sedan and crashed into the camp, flattening the site and pinning two individuals beneath the car. His blood alcohol content was 0.26 percent, Suver said; the legal limit is .08.
Two people died at the scene of the 2 a.m. crash, Suver said. Four others were taken to Salem Health hospital, where two later died. Rodriguez, who was the only occupant of the car, also was taken to the hospital, according to the Salem Police Department.
On Monday afternoon, Salem Police released the names of the people killed in a crash. They are:
Jowand Beck, age 24;
Luke Kagey, age 21;
Joe Posada III, age 54;
Rochelle Zamacona, age 29.
The two people who remain hospitalized are Derrick Hart, age 43, and Savannah Miller, age 18.
Police: Rodriguez admits to having 4 drinks before deadly crash
The camp is in a small triangle of trees and grass just west of Front Street NE where it begins to curve. It's sandwiched between Front Street NE and a railroad track.
City officials say the grassy area is Oregon Department of Transportation property. The number of tents and campers at the site is unknown, but local campers say there were at least a dozen people sleeping, many of them came after the sweeps at Marion Square Park in early March.
According to a probable cause statement written by Ofc. Gary Engler, two witnesses who were at Marion Square Park early Sunday saw the driver of a 2003 Nissan 300ZX with a California plate speeding north on Front Street before the crash.
Witnesses told police as the driver approached Union Street NE, the driver failed to negotiate the slight curve in the road, crossed the center median and barreled into the encampment.
One witness estimated the driver was going about 70 miles per hour on the road moments before the crash. The posted speed limit on the street is 35 mph.
According to the statement, Hart suffered broken ribs, a possible fractured back and an open fracture to his ankle. Miller suffered broken ribs and multiple "life-threatening lacerations to her liver," in the crash.
Engler wrote at least five other campers "narrowly" dodged the speeding car.
Rodriguez was visibly intoxicated, and had red, watery eyes, slurred speech, a flush, slack face and smelled of alcohol, Engler wrote.
Rodriguez told police he had four drinks before the crash and said "transients walked out in front of him." A blood draw revealed a 0.26 BAC — three times the legal limit.
Salem police arrested Rodriguez while he was at the hospital. Rodriguez initially expressed concern for the victims but "quickly shifted to anger" over not getting to smoke a cigarette, and when police told him he couldn't have his phone or car, the statement said.
"He became so enraged I had to step out of the room due to his name-calling," Engler wrote. "While I was in the hallway and out of his sight, he continued yelling."
Just under 12 hours before the crash, a witness called police Saturday afternoon to report a reckless driver in the same Nissan. The witness sent a picture of the car to police, who were able to confirm it was Rodriguez's car.
The witness said the driver was "spinning tires" as it drove from the Salem Parkway onto Cherry Avenue heading north. She said the driver appeared to be racing the driver of a white Subaru, which was right behind's Rodriguez's car — and driving in "a similar fashion."
Rodriguez's car got stopped behind traffic at Sam Orcutt Drive N, where the driver began spinning its tires and almost hit the truck in front.
The witness told police she was "concerned the vehicle would lose control and hit pedestrians who were walking on Cherry Street NE." The witness estimated the cars were "exceeding freeway speeds," according to the statement.
Rodriguez's driving record showed his driver's license was suspended and he had a warrant out of Lebanon Municipal Court for a probation violation for driving while suspended, according to police statements.
During Rodriguez's arraignment Monday, Suver added, Rodriguez has been found in violation of various traffic laws, including reckless driving and driving uninsured since about 2014.
Virginia Barreda is the Statesman Journal's public safety and courts reporter. She can be reached at vbarreda@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6657.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Witness reports driver racing less hours before deadly crash at homeless camp
